Document-file.



PATENTED DEG. 25, 1906.

C. MoPIKE.

DOCUMENT FILE.

APPLICATION FILED APB.27.1Q05.

7m: mamas PETERS cm. WASHIVGTON. u. c.

UNITED STATES ATENT QFFICE.

DOCUMENT-FILE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 25, 1906,

A li aticn filed April 27,1905. Serial No. 257,569.

To all whmn it Wan/y OOH/0677],:

Be it known that I, OURrrs MoPiKE, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Wabash, in the county of i/Vabash and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Document-Files, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to that class of document-files designed for filing documents on end in a compact form, and which usually comprises a holder or drawer adapted to be inserted into the cabinet and having side bars or rails, between which the documents are placed and upon which is supported the follower and follower-clamping means for supporting and compressing the documents in a compact form against the front of the drawer or holder; and my invention has for its primary object to provide an improved and inexpensive form of follower and clamping means for files of this character.

The invention consists in certain features of novelty by which these objects are accomplished, hereinafter described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved document-file, showing the follower-clamps unlocked. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation showing one clamp locked and the other unlocked; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of a clamp which is typical of both clamps, showing it locked in full and unlocked in dotted lines.

The drawer or holder before referred to comprises a front 1, a bottom 2, and side rails 3 4, which have their forward ends secured in the back of the front 1 and their lower ends turned downwardly and secured in the bottom 2. These rails constitute the means for supporting the documents at the sides and also supporting and guiding a follower 5, which is preferably composed of a single piece of sheet metal having a perforated lug 6 at one side through which the rail 4 passes and a return-bend or U-shaped member 7 at the other side having a perforation registering with a perforation in the follower 5 for the passage of the other rail 3. This return-bend or double portion 7 constitutes an extended bearing and forms a guide for the follower, whereby it may be readily slid along the rails without binding. Pivoted adjacent to each of the members 6 7 and inwardly therefrom 1s a locking-cam 8, havlng an operating-lever 9 and thumb-pieces 10 so pivoted on the follower 5 and related to the rails 23 I, respectively, that when the thumbpieces 10 are forced toward each other or inwardly the cams bind against the rails 3 4, respectively, and hold the follower against movement, and when the thumb-pieces 10 are thrown outwardly the cams release their respective rails, allowing the follower to slide. It will also be seen that when the follower is rigidly locked on the rails the levers 9 and thumb-pieces 10 are Wholly within the dimensions of the front 1, and consequently do not interfere at that time with the insertion of the drawer into the cabinet; but un less the levers are properly locked they overhang the rails 3 a and project across the planes of movement of the edges of the front 1, and consequently would prevent the drawer from being inserted.

I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a docui1ientiile the combination with a drawer having side rails, of a follower having a perforation at one side for the passage of one of said rails and a downwardlyextending return-bend at the other side formed integrally therewith and having a perforation therein registering with a perforation in the follower for the passage of the other of said rails, and locking-cams pivoted to the follower adjacent to said rails, for impinging the latter, and having operatinglevers.

2. In a document-file the combination of a drawer provided with side rails, a follower having a perforation at one side for the passage of one of said rails and a return-bend at the other side having a perforation therein registering with a perforation in the follower for the passage of the other of said rails, locking-cams pivoted to said follower adjacent to said rails, and upwardly-extending levers on said cams respectively, said cams and levers being so formed that when the levers are turned outwardly across the rails the follower will be unlocked and when turned inwardly will be locked.

3. In a document-file holder, the combination of a drawer comprising a front, a bottom and side rails, a follower having perforations in its sides for the passage of said rails, cams pivoted to the follower and adapted to engage the rails and levers on the cams, said cams and levers having a pivotal movement Havin thus described In invention what l3 transverse to the movement of the follower, portion, the walls of said portion being pro the free ends of said levers being adapted to Vided with registering apertures for the pasprojeet beyond the sides of the follower to sage of said rails, and a cam pivoted to the form obstructing projections when the cams follower adjacent to and adapted to engage 15 5 are out of engagement with the rails. the rail between the Walls of the said U-shaped 4:. In a document-file, the combination of portion. a drawer comprising a front, a bottom and I side rails, a follower having a perforation at i one side for the passage of one of said rails, a v Witnesses: IO portion of the other side of the follower be- J. D. CONNER, Jr, ing bent to form a substantially U-shaped C. T. CONNER.

CURTIS MOPIKE. 

